During 1987 and 1988, I
worked aboard the CG Lifeboat "Tofino"The "105"
as it was often called was decomissioned in 2002. At 44ft, she
was a sturdy and contollable vessel under most conditions,
despite excessive rolling and fast pitch. Often, crews would
return from calls in rougher shape than those rescued. Built in
1970 by McKay Cormack Ltd, Victoria, the lifeboat spent her
entire career of service in Tofino. A noteable feature of this
vessel was its cleanliness. The "3208 Cat" engines were
painted white, brass was polished, decks were clear, gear was
fast.

Although I will miss the
105, she is worthy of her retirement. A decade of extended
service was pressed out of the aging craft. The electronics,
engines, and electrical system being no longer suitable or
reliable for search and rescue. A few of her sister vessels are
still in service.

Although not Coast Guard,
442 Squadron SAR Techs hail from CFB Comox. Often
"Labrador" helicopters were tasked to marine incidents.
Missions with these aircraft were extraordinary. Labradors were
often tasked to assist us in rescue. Shoreline searches, offshore
patterns, hoists etc. were the norm.

The Labrador has seen
better days. They are now for emergency service only. In January
1997, the Canadian government announced that the Cormorant
would replace the aging Labrador, with plans to have 15 in place
by the year 2003.

The insignia
of the fire service is the Cross Pattee-Nowy, otherwise known
as the Maltese Cross.This cross
represents the fire service ideals of
saving lives and extinguishing fires. The fire service borrows
the cross
from the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, a charitable,
non-military
organization that existed during the 11th and 12th centuries. A
white or
silver cross on a dark background was adopted by these Knights of
Hospitallers, as they were also known, because of their charity
toward the
sick and poor in setting up hospices and hospitals. Later they
assisted the
Knights of the crusades through their goodwill and also through
military
assistance in an effort to win back the Holy Land.
The Knights of St. John eventually moved to the Island of Malta,
The island
for which the Maltese Cross was named. The need for an
identifiable emblem
for the Knights had become crucial. Because of the extensive
armor which
covered their bodies and faces, the Knights were unable to
distinguish
friend from foe in battle. They chose the Cross of Calvary as
their symbol
since they fought their battles for a holy cause. The cross was
later
callled the "Maltese Cross" and represented the
principles of charity,
loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosities to friend and foe,
protection of
the weak, and dexterity in service.

During the Crusades,
many knights became firefighters out of necessity.
Their enemies had resorted to throwing glass bombs containing
naphtha and
sailing their vessels of war containing naptha, rosin, sulfur,
and flaming
oil into the vessels of the knights. Many knights were called to
do heroic
deeds by rescuing fellow knights , and extinguishing fires.